What does it mean?

It means taking time away from your family and your favorite activities for training in professional, up-to-date firefighting techniques. It means going to drills on a regular basis. It means working at the fire station to maintain the building, the grounds, and the equipment. If you're an EMT as well, it means more training, drills, meetings, and maintenance activities as well as annual recertification.

It means putting yourself on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for no pay. It means leaving the warmth of your bed, the comfort of your home, the middle of your meal, or the company of your friends and family whenever you're needed. It means missing events, abandoning guests, or changing plans to help a neighbor who's in need. And it means raising money to pay for the station and some of the fire trucks and equipment used to do the job.

Wait a minute… How can that be? Why do the men and women who already do so much, who put themselves in danger to help their neighbors, also have to raise their own money to do it? Are they crazy? And besides, don't my taxes pay these people and purchase what they need?

Thetford's volunteer firefighters are not paid for the time they contribute. They give their time because they believe in the value of what they do and take pride in doing it. At the same time, they need functioning pagers, protective gear, safe equipment, rescue tools, supplies, vehicles, training space, and a warm building to house it all. While the Town pays for operating expenses and supports the purchase of pumpers, fundraising provides for building expansion, special equipment, and replacement of non-pumper trucks as well as shortfalls in the operating funds.

So what can I do to help?

There are four ways you can help: join the department, help to organize and run a fundraiser , provide support with food and drink at or after emergencies, and donate . The Thetford Volunteer Fire Department is a non-profit organization, and appreciates every donation , no matter how large or how small. Please consider helping this group of dedicated volunteers to continue to provide quality emergency services to our community.